Migracijske i etničke teme (Aug 2012)
The Concepts of Transnational Social Spaces and Fields in the Study of Migration and Post-Migration Processes
Abstract
In contemporary migration studies transnational perspective is more widespread as a result of critical questioning of methodological nationalism in the social sciences. In the literature on transnational processes within migration studies the concepts of “transnationalism”, “transnational social spaces” and “transnational social fields” emerge and these should have a significant future role in conceiving social reality. Nevertheless, these terms and concepts are ambiguously defined and insufficiently developed. The paper presents the main approaches to the concept of transnational social spaces (Pries, Faist) and transnational social fields (Levitt and Glick Schiller), comparing their basic elements and differences. After a review and individual critique of selected approaches, the last part of the paper emphasizes common elements and concepts’ critique, including inadequate theoretical rootedness and a lack of clear dimensions and indicators for the operationalisation of concepts. Despite shortcomings, the segments of discussed approaches indicate relevant processes and research questions that could sensitise researchers to biases of methodological nationalism in conceptualising society as a national container.
